Walking Literature

Details of walks in the area are to be found in books, in leaflets, in magazines and on-line, some of which are available to download and others which have to be purchased.  Three books worthy of mention are:

1. ALSTON & ALLENDALE by Paul Hannon  –  One of the Hillside Guides, featuring 22 walks in general area.  See Walks 1-17 below for those in the Alston Moor area.
2. IN AND AROUND SOUTH TYNEDALE AND HADRIAN’S WALL by Ian Smith  –  One in a series of walkers’ guides published by Sandhill Press.  This extremely informative guidebook describes the full length of South Tynedale broken down in to short walks. See Walks 18-23 below.
3. WALKING IN THE NORTH PENNINES by Paddy Dillon by Paddy Dillon – Published by Cicerone Press and probably the best guide book for walking in the North Pennines, featuring 50 walks in the general area including nine on Alston Moor.  See Walks 24-32 below.

Of the innumerable leaflets that exist we draw attention to:

1. An excellent series of walking leaflets produced by the South Tynedale Railway.  See Walks 33-36 below.
2. A  series of locally-produced self-guided walks on Alston Moor offering an introduction to its river valleys, waterfalls, flora and fauna, industrial and farming heritage and its communities.  See Walks 37-39 below.
3. By far the largest selection of information/walking leaflets is that produced by the North Pennines AONB.  See Walks 42-53 below.

Much of the above may be obtained from Information Centres or from the Hi-Pennine Outdoor Shop in Alston, the staff in which are also extremely knowledgeable about walks in the area.

Of the innumerable websites containing walks in the area we mention:

1. where2walk.co.uk  – see Walks 56-62 below.
2. go4awalk.com – see Walks 63-76 below.
3. mypennines.co.uk – see Walks 77-87 below.

Walks List

1. The Corpse Road from Garrigill
2. South Tyne’s Banks from Garrigill
3. Ashgill Force from Garrigill
4. Around Nenthead and Nentsberry
5. The Nent Valley from Alston to Nenthall
6. The South Tyne from Alston to Bleagate
7. The South Tyne from Alston to Leadgate via The Wardway
8. The South Tyne from Alston to Kirkhaugh via Whitley Castle (Epiacum)
9. Slaggyford and Knarsdale
10. The Maiden Way from Burnstones to Lambley
11. Coanwood to Whitwham via Lambley Viaduct
12. Featherstone Park
13. Broomhouse Common from Featherstone
14. The Mo Hope Valley from Ninebanks
15. West Allen Dale from Carrshield
16. The Dodd from Carrshield
17. Cross Fell from Garrigill
18. Cross Fell to TyneHead
19. TyneHead to Garrigill via Ashgill
20. Garrigill to Alston
21. Alston to Kirkhaugh
22. Kirkhaugh to Slaggyford
23. Slaggyford to Lambley
24. Hallbankgate and Cold Fell
25. Croglin, Newbiggin and Croglin Fell
26. Maiden Way – Kirkland to Alston
27. Knockergill Pass – Knock to Garrigill
28. Ninebanks, Hard Rigg and the Dodd
29. Alston, Garrigill and the River South Tyne
30. Alston, Lambley and Haltwhistle
31. Slaggyford and Grey Nag
32. Nenthead and Nag’s Head
33. Track & Trail: Alston – Kirkhaugh/Lintley – Alston
34. Ride & Randalholme Ramble: Alston – Kirkhaugh – Alston
35. Pennine Way & Whitley Castle: Alston – Kirkhaugh/Lintley – Alston
36. The Lintley Loop: Lintley/Kirkhaugh circular
37. Alston’s Nent Valley: Gossipgate to Blagill
38. Annat Walls and Nattrass Gill: The South Tyne Valley
39. Of Poaching & Poss Sticks: Garrigill to Ashgill
40. Garrigill Round (nationaltrail.co.uk version)
41. Garrigill Round (mudand routes.com version)
42. South Tyne Valley Wildflower Walk: Alston to Leadgate
43. Garrigill Bird Walk
44. Lambley Bird Walk
45. Wellhope Moor Bird Walk
46. Ouston Fell Bird Site
47. Open Access Walks – Cold Fell (GPX file available)
48. Open Access Walks – North Pennine Ridge (Northern Section) (GPX file available)
49. Open Access Walks – North Pennine Ridge (Southern Section) (GPX file available)
50. Tynehead Geology Trail
51. Whitley Castle Walk
52. Appletreeshield Chapel
53. South Tyne Trail
54. Isaac’s Tea Trail
55. The Eden Heritage Trail leaflet (with details of a downloadable app)
56. Mines and Lands of Nenthead
57. From Nenthead to Garrigill
58. Ashgill Force
59. Alston to Slaggyford
60. Garrigill to Bleagate
61. Alston to Kirkhaugh
62. Cross Fell from Garrigill
63. Alston to Bleagate
64. Flinty Fell from Nenthead
65. Garrigill to Bleagate
66. The Dodd and Killhope Law from Killhope Cross
67. Cold Fell from Clesketts
68. Black Fell from Hartside
69. Grey Nag from Gilderdale Bridge
70. Alston from Garrigill
71. Ashgill and Bellbeaver Rigg from Garrigill
72. Ashgill and Round Hill from Garrigill
73. Grey Nag and Black Fell from Gilderdale Bridge
74. Round Hill and Bellbeaver Rigg fromGarrigill
75. Cold Fell from Clesketts
76. Cross Fell and Great Dun Fell from Garrigill
77. Brownley Hill and The Dodd from Coalcleugh
78. Pike Rigg and Whitfield Lough
79. Hard Rigg from Alston
80. Flinty Fell and Alston Moor from Garrigill
81. Round Hill and Longman Hill from Garrigill
82. Cold Fell from Clesketts
83. Grey Nag and Black Fell from Alston
84. Bellbeaver Rigg and Viewing Hill from Yad Moss
85. Melmerby Fell and Fiend’s Fell from Hartside
86. Ashgill Force from Garrigill
87. The Dodd from Carrshield

The same walk may occur more than once in the above list.  This is usually because there are variations in the route or for more comprehensive route information or because of the different formats.

We would welcome any suggestions for addition to this list.